Results 1 - 8 of 8
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Retain or forgive sins? | John 20:22 | flinkywood | 204631 | ||
Dear Tamara, It does appear that Jesus gave such authority to the apostles in His name as a continuation of his ministry of mercy and reconciliation: All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2Co 5:18-20 ESV) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (Jas 5:14-15 ESV) In the former verse, Paul explains that Jesus has entrusted "...to us the ministry of reconciliation...", which, in context, indicates the authority to carry out the forgiveness of "trespasses". Int the latter, the word "elders" translates the Greek "presbuteros", whence the English "presbyter" or "priest". It appears such "priests" were empowered for this anointing. Elsewhere the power to "forgive and retain" sins in Jesus' name is described as "binding and loosing": "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mat 16:19 ESV) "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mat 18:18 ESV) And there is this: But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he then said to the paralytic--"Rise, pick up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. (Mat 9:6-8 ESV) Matthew is clear that this authority "to forgive sins" comes from Jesus "to men". You could argue that in context the people were confused, not yet realizing that Jesus was not only a man, but also God; but Matthew employs the plural form of man, which gives this account a decidedly ecclesiastical meaning. It's logical to ask why Jesus would not give the authority to forgive sins to those He entrusted to build His Church on earth. I like your spunky curiosity, btw. |
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2 | Retain or forgive sins? | John 20:22 | DocTrinsograce | 204777 | ||
Sounds an whole lot like the Roman Church teaching of absolution. I guess you'd have to chuck the every one of the solas to find it "logical." | ||||||
3 | Retain or forgive sins? | John 20:22 | flinkywood | 204778 | ||
Doc, Why would you have to chuck the solas? | ||||||
4 | Retain or forgive sins? | John 20:22 | DocTrinsograce | 204781 | ||
Hi, flinkywood... It's that pesky, old word "alone." Scripture alone: The Word teaches that officers of the church can only declare what God has already done (John 20:23), not that He partners with the apostles. We don't find a single example in Scripture of church officers forgiving sin. Instead, they direct every to seek forgiveness from God. Clearly they did not interpret John 20:23 as the authority to forgive sins. Therefore, one must find some other authority on which to base such a doctrine. Grace alone and faith alone: Justification can only come from the judge Himself (Romans 3:30; 8:32-34). Sin is, after all, a direct offense against God's law (Romans 5:13), will (Leviticus 26:24), and holiness. Christ alone: The forgiveness of sins is always connected to the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 24:46-48). It is never joined with anything else. He is our sole advocate (1 John 2:1). To the glory of God alone: The Lord does not share His glory with anyone or anything (Isaiah 42:8). Redemption originates in Him (Psalm 3:8), is effected by Him (Hebrews 12:2), worked entirely by Him (Ephesians 2:8), and entirely for Him (Psalm 21:5; Isaiah 48:9). In Him, Doc "The experience of the Romish Church, in which the priests are practically regarded as having the power to absolve sinners, and shut heaven against persons not absolved, affords the strongest indirect evidence that our Lord's words can only have been meant to bear a 'declarative' sense. Anything worse or more mischievous, both to minister and people, than the results of the Romish system of penance and absolution, it is impossible to conceive. It is a system which has practically degraded the laity, puffed up and damaged the clergy, turned people away from Christ, and kept them in spiritual darkness and bondage." --J. C. Ryle |
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5 | Retain or forgive sins? | John 20:22 | flinkywood | 204785 | ||
Doc, I'd agree with you if scripture did: And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (Jas 5:15) This verse seems to echo both in form and practice Jesus' healing of the paralytic in Matthew 9:2-8, which indicates that Jerusalem elders, called to imitate Christ, were doing so in a manner already well established by the time of James' writing. These verses lend credence to an interpretation of John 20:23 as indicating that our Lord did indeed authorize the apostles to forgive sin - and most certainly in His name. I do appreciate your view of John 20:23 as a commission to declare what God has already done; but Jesus hadn't yet ascended to the Father and was still about the business of founding and teaching His fledgling church on earth. For sure we're called to proclaim the Gospel and to "be holy" as our Father is Holy, but in this verse forgiving and retaining, like binding and loosing, are more about institution than proclamation. And of course none of it, not one jot or tittle, would be possible without the atoning work of Christ. I also take issue with you about Jesus not partnering with the apostles. How else to take the meaning of, "As the Father sent me, so I send you"? These are his brothers, his family, what better partners? And though I respect J.C. Ryle's opinion, it does sound like saying, 'the fact that cars kill so many people proves they were never meant for driving.' In other words, a conclusion doesn't change a fact. Thanks for your careful reply. Colin |
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6 | Retain or forgive sins? | John 20:22 | Val | 204787 | ||
Colin, this passage in James 5:15 if you look at it closely you will see that the person who is sick is the one who initiates the call for the leaders of the church to come pray over him. Some believe this means that God has put this in the heart of the sick person and it is this impression from God that is an assurance of his healing. We know not all sick people are healed here on earth so it is not for everyone, just those whom God has put this in their hearts. | ||||||
7 | Retain or forgive sins? | John 20:22 | flinkywood | 204790 | ||
Hi, Val, Nevertheless, James tells us that the healing is accompanied by forgiveness for any sins committed. | ||||||
8 | Retain or forgive sins? | John 20:22 | Val | 204816 | ||
Are you still holding to your comments that it is man who forgives the sins? | ||||||